Tahiti & French Polynesia

Visas

Everyone needs a passport to visit French Polynesia. The regulations are much the same as for France: if you need a visa to visit France then you'll need one to visit French Polynesia. Anyone from an EU country can stay for up to three months without a visa, as can Australians and citizens of a number of other European countries, including Switzerland.

Citizens of Argentina, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand (NZ), the USA and some European countries can stay for up to one month without a visa. Other nationalities need a visa, which can be applied for at French diplomatic missions. Visa regulations for French Polynesia can change at short notice, so check with a travel agent shortly before departing.

Apart from permanent residents and French citizens, all visitors to French Polynesia need to have an onward or return ticket.

Everyone needs a passport to visit French Polynesia. The regulations are much the same as for France: if you need a visa to visit France then you'll need one to visit French Polynesia. Anyone from an EU country can stay for up to three months without a visa, as can Australians and citizens of a number of other European countries, including Switzerland.

Citizens of Argentina, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the USA and some other European countries are able to stay for up to one month without a visa. Other nationalities need a visa, which can be applied for at French diplomatic missions. Visa regulations for French Polynesia can change at short notice, so check with a travel agent shortly before departing.

Apart from permanent residents and French citizens, all visitors to French Polynesia need to have an onward or return ticket.

Visa extensions

Travellers who must have a visa, or those who have a one-month exemption and wish to extend their stay, should contact the Police aux Frontières (Frontier Police 42 40 74; pafport@mail.pf; Fa'a airport8am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri; Pape'ete 7.30am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri), at Faa'a airport and next to the Gie Tahiti Manava visitor information centre in Pape'ete, at least one week before the visa or exemption expires. An extension is for a maximum of two months, and incurs a fee of 3000 CFP.

Stays by foreign visitors may not exceed three months. For longer periods, you must apply to the French consular authorities in your own country for a residence permit; you cannot lodge your application from French Polynesia.

Visa extensions

Travellers who must have a visa, or those who have a one-month exemption and wish to extend their stay, should contact the Police aux Frontières(Frontier Police; 42 40 74; pafport@mail.pf; airport office 8am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri, Pape'ete office 7.30am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri), at Faa'a airport and next to the Manava Visitors Bureau in Pape'ete, at least one week before the visa or exemption expires. An extension is for a maximum of two months and incurs a fee of 3000 CFP.

Stays by foreign visitors may not exceed three months. For longer periods, you must apply to the French consular authorities in your own country for a residence permit; you cannot lodge your application from French Polynesia.